A new show turns the killing of President Abraham Lincoln into a crime story that delves deeper into the event than most history books.
Many people who learned about Lincoln in school know he was killed by a man named John Wilkes Booth while watching a play at Ford's Theatre with his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln.
What's not as well remembered is that Booth murdered the president shortly after the end of the Civil War. It was a planned attack on the president, Vice President Andrew Johnson, and the Secretary of State, but only Booth succeeded.
As a supporter of the Confederate cause, Booth had help hiding. Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War, led the Army's search to find Lincoln's killer. Booth was located 12 days later in a barn, where he was shot and killed.
The show 'Manhunt,' which premiered on Apple TV+ on Friday, depicts the pursuit of Booth and the subsequent trial. It's based on the book 'Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer' by James L. Swanson. Tobias Menzies plays Stanton, who also aided in convicting Booth's co-conspirators.
According to creator and showrunner Monica Beletsky, most people don't know these details unless they have a Ph.D or a special interest in the topic.
Menzies finds portraying Stanton exciting because Stanton had a close and respected relationship with Lincoln.
Stanton's journey involves both a political and personal loss, as he loses a friend. Menzies, who studied little American history, expressed enjoyment in learning about this new part of history through his role as an actor.
Truth is indeed stranger than fiction.
Anthony Boyle, who plays Booth, initially became aware of the man through an episode of 'The Simpsons' where Bart portrayed him in a school play. Boyle delved into Booth's psyche by reading letters he wrote from the ages of 15 to 26, describing them as a 'descent into madness.'
Beletsky hopes 'Manhunt' highlights the shocking nature of Lincoln's killing at the time.
According to her, that kind of murder was very rare. Lincoln even left the White House door unlocked during the Civil War, despite receiving many death threats. It was unimaginable that such a crime could occur in their culture. She was told that Booth wearing all black that night inspired villains wearing all black in storytelling.
Booth's decision to publicly kill Lincoln in front of an audience reflects his desire for attention.
Menzies, a British actor known for 'The Crown' and 'Outlander,' pointed out the packed theater and Booth's escape into the night before being found 12 days later, stating that it's a story so unbelievable it couldn't be made up.
Booth belonged to a family of actors but lived in the shadow of his more respected older brother, Edwin. He confidently stated on the show that he would become very famous. While on the run, he enjoyed reading newspaper articles about himself and the attention he received.
Actor Hamish Linklater, portraying Lincoln, described the situation as if it were Leonardo DiCaprio's brother who killed the president. He emphasized that Edwin was a major celebrity at the time.
Boyle added that at the time of the assassination, there was no internet or television, so news spread through word of mouth. People found it hard to believe that an actor like John Wilkes Booth could have killed the President.
Besides recounting Stanton’s story, Beletsky introduces viewers to Mary Simms, a freed slave owned by Dr. Samuel Mudd, who treated Booth while he was on the run. The series shows Simms interacting with Booth at Mudd’s house, but in reality, they never met.
Simms testified in the trial of Booth’s co-conspirators, including Mudd, and confirmed Booth's support for the Confederacy. Because there is little information available on Simms, she was portrayed as a combination of several people involved in the conviction of Booth’s co-conspirators.
Beletsky stated that the series was a chance to highlight heroes like Stanton and Simms and to clarify what really happened in the past and how it still affects us.
Menzies expressed that it was a relevant time to tell the story with the upcoming election, as the series shows the fragility of democracy, which remains true in current times. He believes the story has a meaningful resonance.
